(Dan 1:1 KJV) In the third year
of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem,
and besieged it.

This is the beginning of the
Babylonian captivity, which lasted 70 years. This
is the first deportation of Jews from Jerusalem
into Babylon, which took place in 605 BC. The
second deportation was 8 years later in 597 BC
under Jehoiachin. A third and final deportation
took place in 586 BC, when the majority of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem were carried off into
captivity.

(Dan 1:2 KJV) And the Lord gave
Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part
of the vessels of the house of God: which he
carried into the land of Shinar to the house of
his god; and he brought the vessels into the
treasure house of his god.

Nebuchadnezzar intended to
take Jehoiakim to Babylon, but he died before he
could be deported. Jehoiakim’s body was dragged by
the Chaldean besiegers out of the gates and left
unburied. This would be the ultimate insult to a
rival king. Only a portion of the vessels were
carried away and stored in the house of
Nebuchadnezzar’s god Bel. Not all the vessels were
taken away at this time, since Nebuchadnezzar
intended to have Israel as a tributary state. He
left enough vessels for the Jews to have their
worship. All the vessels were subsequently taken
away in the third deportation in 586 BC. The
temple of Bel was the treasure house of
Nebuchadnezzar. The vessels were restored to
Jerusalem under Cyrus (Ezra 1:7).

(Dan 1:3 KJV) And the king spake
unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he
should bring certain of the children of Israel,
and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

The prophecy about
this chain of events is in II Kings 20:17-18 and
describes how King Hezekiah showed his treasures
to the Babylonians, and Isaiah prophesied that
they would all be taken to Babylon, along with
even some descendents of King Hezekiah.
Nebuchadnezzar tells the master over his eunuchs
to bring certain of the young Israelites to
Babylon along with some of the king’s
descendents, as prophesied. Children refers to
youths 12-14 years old, and they were to be
handsome (i.e., no blemish), as shown in the
following verse. A handsome form in Oriental
thinking was indicative of mental power.

(Dan 1:4 KJV)Children
in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and
skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge,
and understanding science, and such as had
ability in them to stand in the king's palace,
and whom they might teach the learning and the
tongue of the Chaldeans.

Nebuchadnezzar desired
handsome and intelligent children, who could serve
in his palace, and stand before the king. This
refers to attendant courtiers and not eunuchs,
which performed the more menial tasks in the
king’s palace. The courtiers were often nobles in
the country, and they functioned in the actual
government of the king. Nebuchadnezzar wanted
these courtiers to learn the language of Chaldea
and the literature, which was Aramaic-Babylonian.

(Dan 1:5 KJV)And
the king appointed them a daily provision of the
king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so
nourishing them three years, that at the end
thereof they might stand before the king.

It was typical for the
retainers and royal captives to be fed from the
king’s table. The king’s meat refers to delicacies
and the best fare. To stand before the king refers
to occupying important positions in the king’s
government, so the youths were to be judged by the
king to see if they have the necessary knowledge
needed to be assigned important positions in the
court of the king.

This is a clear
type of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah
representing the four end time churches of
Philadelphia, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea, who
will stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of
Christ to determine if they will qualify for
positions in the kingdom of heaven. We will see
more facets of this typology in the coming
chapters.

(Dan 1:6 KJV) Now among these
were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah:

Judah was the
noblest tribe, since it was the tribe of the
king’s seed. Four children among this tribe were
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel
means God
my Judge
in the Hebrew; Hananiah means Whom Jehovah hath
favored;
Mishael means Who is Comparable to God; and Azariah means
Whom
Jehovah Helps.

(Dan 1:7 KJV) Unto whom the
prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave
unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to
Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of
Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

Daniel’s name was
changed to Belteshazzer, which means “a prince
favored by Bel”. Hananiah’s name was changed to
Shadrach, which means inspired or illumined by the
Sungod.
Mishael’s name was changed to Meshnach,
retaining the first syllable but substituting
for El the name of the Babylonian earth goddess
Shak, whose name was Sheshach. Azariah’s name
was changed to Abednego, which means servant of the
shining fire. Thus, the four youths were dedicated by
the heathen to their four leading gods: Bel who
is the Chief-god, the Sun-god, the Earth-god and
the Fire-god.

(Dan 1:8 KJV) But Daniel purposed
in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king's meat, nor with
the wine which he drank: therefore he requested
of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not
defile himself.

Daniel is depicted
as being the leader in purposing in his heart
not to defile himself with the king’s special
food and wine. Daniel was not arrogant or
rebellious in his actions, but he simply
requested permission by his overseer not to
defile himself with the special food. It was
custom to throw a small part of the viands and
wine upon the earth as an initiatory rite to
consecrate the whole meal of the king’s food to
the gods. Thus, if Daniel and his friends ate
the food, they would be participating in
idolatry by eating food that had been
consecrated by the false gods of Babylon. This
would have been defilement under the Mosaic
Law.

(Dan 1:9 KJV) Now God had brought
Daniel into favour and tender love with the
prince of the eunuchs.

Daniel was favored
by the overseer, who actually cared for Daniel
as described by the phrase “tender love”.
The favor of others toward the godly is the
action of God.

(Dan 1:10 KJV) And the prince of
the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the
king, who hath appointed your meat and your
drink: for why should he see your faces worse
liking than the children which are of your sort?
then shall ye make me endanger my head to the
king.

The overseer explains to
Daniel his fear of the king if Daniel and his
friends did not look healthy when the king saw
their faces after the time of testing.

(Dan 1:11 KJV) Then said Daniel
to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had
set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Daniel suggested to the
overseer a test to confirm to the overseer that
the food they requested would keep them healthy.
Melzar refers to the steward, or chief butler,
entrusted by Ashpenaz with furnishing the daily
portion of food to the youths. Melzar is not a
proper name but a title or position of a servant.
The name in Persian means “master of wine or chief
butler”.

(Dan 1:12 KJV) Prove thy
servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them
give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Daniel asked that they be
fed “pulse”, which is vegetables, and water to
drink for a period of ten days.

(Dan 1:13 KJV) Then let our
countenances be looked upon before thee, and the
countenance of the children that eat of the
portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest,
deal with thy servants.

After ten days the
overseer was to look upon their faces and judge
if they looked as healthy as the other children
being fed the king’s fare. This was a simple
test and would alleviate the fears of the
overseer, who was clearly willing to let Daniel
and his partners eat vegetables and water, but
he was fearful of the king.

(Dan 1:14
KJV) So he consented to them in this
matter, and proved them ten days.

The overseer
consented to this simple test. At the end of the
ten days, the complexions of Daniel and his
friends were actually fairer and healthier
looking than all the children that ate the
king’s food.

(Dan 1:15 KJV)And
at the end of ten days their countenances
appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
children which did eat the portion of the king's
meat.

At the end of the
ten days, the complexions of Daniel and his
friends were actually fairer and healthier
looking than all the children, which ate the
king’s food.

(Dan 1:16 KJV)Thus
Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and
the wine that they should drink; and gave them
pulse.

At seeing the
health of the youths, the chief butler took away
the portion of their food and wine that they
should drink, and gave them vegetables
instead.

(Dan 1:17 KJV) As for these four
children, God gave them knowledge and skill in
all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had
understanding in all visions and dreams.

God gave the four youths
knowledge and skill in learning and wisdom, but he
gave Daniel understanding in regard to visions and
dreams. Thus, God made Daniel an interpreter of
visions and dreams in a degree that eclipsed the
Chaldean sages, who prided themselves in this
field of study and accomplishment. This will be
seen later when Daniel is given supernatural
ability in the interpretation of dreams and
visions.

Note: This verse
sets the stage for Daniel and his three friends
being a type of the four end-time churches
described in Revelation 2-3. Daniel will be seen
as a type of the Philadelphia church, who is
taken in the Firstfruits Rapture to sit in the
court of the king, while Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego are left behind to go through the firey
trials of the tribulation period. We will
address this in more detail as we continue with
this study.

(Dan 1:18 KJV)Now
at the end of the days that the king had said he
should bring them in, then the prince of the
eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

At the end of the three
years all the youths were brought before the king
to be tested.

(Dan 1:19 KJV)And
the king communed with them; and among them all
was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah: therefore stood they before the
king.

Upon being tested
by the king, none was found to equal Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah in their knowledge
and wisdom. Therefore, they were promoted to
leadership positions in the king’s court. They
were placed in positions of favor near the
throne.

(Dan
1:20 KJV)And in all
matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king
inquired of them, he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and astrologers that were
in all his realm.

Details are
provided to show that Daniel and his friends
were ten times better than all the magicians and
astrologers that were in the realm. This is
confirmation of the knowledge and wisdom that
God provided for them in verse 17 above.

(Dan 1:21 KJV)And
Daniel continued even unto the first year of
king Cyrus.

This chapter ends with the
note that Daniel continued even unto the time of
king Cyrus, when he conquered the Babylonian
Empire and established the Empire of the Medes and
Persians. The significance of this statement is
that Daniel, who was one of the first captives in
the Babylonian Exile lived to see the end of the
seventy years in exile. Daniel 10:1 confirms that
Daniel was still around in the third year of
Cyrus. Daniel would have been in his early 80s
when Cyrus conquered Babylon.

Chapter 2King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of the Four
Kingdoms

(Dan 2:1 KJV)And
in the second year of the reign of
Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams,
wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep
brake from him.

We know from verse 1:5 above
that the children had been taken away by
Nebuchadnezzar three years earlier, so why does
this verse state the second year of
Nebuchadnezzar? Nebuchadnezzar had first ruled as
a vice-regent under his father Nabopolassar, but
this verse dates his dream from the time of his
sole sovereignty. Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon 605
BC-562 BC. Nabopolassar ruled Babylon 625 BC-605
BC. Nebuchadnezzar conquered the combined forces
of Assyria and Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish
in 605 BC, while Nabopolassar stayed in Babylon.
Nabopolassar died on the 8th of Abu 605
BC, which was August 15th of 605 BC.
Nebuchadnezzar sat on the throne as ruler on the 1st
of Ululu 605 BC, which was September 7th
605 BC. The first complete year of reign for
Nebuchadnezzar started in 604 BC. This information
is from the Babylonian
Chronicle 5: http://www.livius.org/cg-cm/chronicles/abc5/jerusalem.html

It was in the second
complete year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign as
sovereign king when he received his dream from God
about the four primary kingdoms that would reign,
beginning with Babylon the Great. Even though the
dream was given to him, the interpretation was to
come from an Israelite, the people of God.
Heathendom is passive and Israel active pertaining
to divine things, so the glory goes to the God of
heaven.

The king’s dream
troubled him greatly, for he knew it was of
great significance, even though he did not know
the meaning. It is clear that God had impressed
upon him the significance of the dream.

(Dan 2:2 KJV)Then
the king commanded to call the magicians, and
the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the
Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So
they came and stood before the king.

The king called the
magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans
to give him the dream and the interpretation.
The Chaldeans were a particular order of
priest-magicians, who wore the peculiar dress
pictured on the gods and deified men in Assyrian
sculptures. They probably belonged exclusively
to the Chaldeans, which was the original tribe
of the Babylonian nation. In like manner the
Magians were properly Medes. The magicians were
a group that had special knowledge in the
occult, while the astrologers had special
knowledge about the stars and the Massaroth. The
sorcerers were the necromancers who supposedly
received knowledge from departed spirits. These
were the different groups of so-called wise men
who had different knowledge and expertise in
supernatural phenomena. They came to stand
before the king to advise him regarding his
dream.

(Dan 2:3 KJV)And
the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream,
and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

The king asks the
different groups of Babylonian wise men to give
him the dream and the interpretation, explaining
that he was greatly troubled by the dream.

(Dan 2:4 KJV)Then
spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O
king, live for ever: tell thy servants the
dream, and we will show the interpretation.

The king is asked
by the group called Chaldeans to give them the
dream, so they could interpret it. They ask in
the language of Syriac, which was the local
Aramaic dialect of Northern Mesopotamia.

(Dan 2:5 KJV) The king answered
and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone
from me: if ye will not make known unto me the
dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall
be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made
a dunghill.

The king has included a test
for the wise men to confirm if their knowledge was
truly supernatural, or just a hoax. The king
refuses to give them the dream, and asks them to
give the dream and the meaning of the dream. It
seems clear that the king did not trust them, for
he requires them to not only give the meaning of
the dream, but also the dream. This makes perfect
sense, since if they had supernatural knowledge of
the meaning of the dream, then they should also be
able to have supernatural knowledge of the dream
itself.

The actual
translation of “The thing is gone from me” is
“The decree is gone forth from me”. The king is
being adamant that they are to give him the
dream and the interpretation. Clearly, the dream
had not been forgotten, but the king added a
test to determine if the wise men truly had
supernatural knowledge. The validity of the
king’s test is confirmed when Daniel gives the
king the dream itself and the meaning of the
dream. Daniel truly did have supernatural
knowledge that came from the God of the
universe.

(Dan 2:6 KJV)But
if ye show the dream, and the interpretation
thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and
rewards and great honour: therefore show me the
dream, and the interpretation thereof.

The king promises
to reward them greatly for giving him the dream
and the meaning of the dream.

(Dan 2:7 KJV)They
answered again and said, Let the king tell his
servants the dream, and we will show the
interpretation of it.

The wise men ask
again for the dream, so they might provide the
interpretation.

(Dan 2:8 KJV)The
king answered and said, I know of certainty that
ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing
is gone from me.

The king accuses
them of trying to buy time, because it has been
made clear to them that the king has decreed
that they are to give both the dream and the
meaning. At that time it was inappropriate for a
king to decree or declare something to be a
certain way, and then for the king to change his
mind and declare something else. This was
probably because it showed weakness or
indecisiveness on the part of a sovereign ruler.
We also see this similar situation when Daniel
is thrown in the Lion’s den because the king had
declared it. King Darius had made the decree and
he could not go back on his word, regardless of
how much he wanted to change the decree.

(Dan 2:9 KJV)But
if ye will not make known unto me the dream,
there is but one decree for you: for ye have
prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before
me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me
the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me
the interpretation thereof.

The king reconfirms his
decree that they must tell the dream and the
meaning of the dream to confirm the validity of
the interpretation. This verse confirms the
distrust the king had for the interpretation of
the king’s dream by the different groups of wise
men.

(Dan 2:10 KJV) The Chaldeans
answered before the king, and said, There is not
a man upon the earth that can show the king's
matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor
ruler, that asked such things at any magician,
or astrologer, or Chaldean.

The Chaldeans seem to be the
highest level of wise men, since they serve as
spokesmen for the rest of the groups. They must be
very nervous at this point, since they state that
no man upon earth could tell the king his dream,
and that there is no king who would require such a
thing of any magician, astrologer or Chaldean.

(Dan 2:11 KJV)And
it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and
there is none other that can show it before the
king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not
with flesh.

The Chaldeans continue with
their argument by stating that this request by the
king is extremely rare, since there is no one who
can provide this information, except the gods, and
they do not dwell with humans. This is definitely
a slap in the king’s face, since they are
unconsciously demeaning the king for asking such a
ridiculous task. We see the anger elicited in the
king in the following verse.

(Dan 2:12 KJV)For
this cause the king was angry and very furious,
and commanded to destroy all the wise men of
Babylon.

The king was angry
at the Chaldeans’ statement and he reacted
furiously to their supposition by commanding all
of the wise men of Babylon to be
destroyed.

(Dan 2:13 KJV)And
the decree went forth that the wise men should
be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows
to be slain.

The decree went
forth that all the wise men of Babylon were to
be destroyed, since they could not tell the king
his dream and the interpretation. Since Daniel,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were also wise
men, they were included the decree to be
slain.

(Dan 2:14 KJV)Then
Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to
Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which
was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

When they came to
take Daniel away to slay him, he answered with
prudence and wisdom to the captain of the king’s
guard, Arioch, who had the task of slaying all
the wise men.

(Dan 2:15 KJV)He
answered and said to Arioch the king's captain,
Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then
Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Daniel asked Arioch the
reason for haste in killing all the wise men of
Babylon. Arioch explained the situation to Daniel.

(Dan 2:16 KJV)Then
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he
would give him time, and that he would show the
king the interpretation.

Daniel requested
from the king some time, so that he could give
the king the interpretation of the dream. The
king obviously allowed Daniel the time to
determine both the dream and the
interpretation.

(Dan 2:17 KJV)Then
Daniel went to his house, and made the thing
known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his
companions:

Daniel went to his
fellow Jewish friends to tell them the situation
at hand, and to seek their help in petitioning
God for the revelation of the secret dream.

(Dan 2:18 KJV)That
they would desire mercies of the God of heaven
concerning this secret; that Daniel and his
fellows should not perish with the rest of the
wise men of Babylon.

Daniel asked his
companions to petition God for the dream itself
and for the interpretation of the dream, so that
Daniel and his companions would not perish along
with the other wise men.

(Dan 2:19 KJV)Then
was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night
vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

The secret dream and the
interpretation were given to Daniel in a night
vision, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven for
showing him the secret matter. This giving of the
dream to Daniel and the interpretation of the
dream confirms the statement in verse 1:17, which
states that God gave Daniel understanding in both
visions and dreams. It is significant that the
king’s information came in a dream, but the same
information came to Daniel in a vision. A dream
from God is significant in providing supernatural
information of future events to individuals, but a
vision is surer and confirms the certainty of the
fulfillment of the events disclosed.

(Dan 2:20 KJV) Daniel answered
and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever
and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

The term “bless” in
this verse means to extol as holy and to
glorify. Thus, Daniel praised the holiness of
God and glorified him for his omniscience and
omnipotence in providing the secret dream to
Daniel.

(Dan 2:21 KJV)And
he changeth the times and the seasons: he
removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth
wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that
know understanding:

The clause “he
changeth the times and the seasons” means that
God is in control of all events on earth,
including the weather and environment. Nothing
is outside of his dominion in the affairs of men
and nature. This is the first aspect of the
kingdom of God, where every molecule and atom in
the universe is subject to his control. See my
article on the kingdom of God at the following
link: The
Kingdom of God.

God is the One Who
removes kings and sets up kings. There is no
authority upon earth that is outside of God’s
control. It is God who gives wisdom and
knowledge to individual persons, and nothing
happens that is not ordained by God. This
verse is one of many that confirms the total and
complete sovereignty of God over all things in
the universe.

(Dan 2:22 KJV)He
revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth
what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth
with him.

This is a continuation of
the declaration of the omniscience of God, Who is
the only one able to reveal all knowledge and
secrets in the universe. He even knows what goes
on in the nether world of darkness and evil, and
He is the one who possesses all spiritual
understanding.

(Dan 2:23 KJV) I thank thee, and
praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast
given me wisdom and might, and hast made known
unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou
hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

Daniel thanks and praises
God, Who is the God of the Jews and has provided
Daniel with this wisdom and might. The wisdom
pertains to the knowledge about the dream, and the
might is Daniel’s ability to prevent the deaths of
all of the wise men of Babylon. Thus, the might
rests in Daniel’s ability to stay the king’s hand
in carrying out a decree that would have resulted
in the death of Daniel and his companions, as well
as the Chaldeans, astrologers, magicians,
sorcerers and other wise men in the court of the
king.

(Dan 2:24 KJV) Therefore Daniel
went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained
to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and
said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of
Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will
show unto the king the interpretation.

Daniel approaches
Arioch, the one in charge of slaying all the
wise men of Babylon, and asks him not to kill
the wise men of Babylon, since Daniel is able to
reveal the interpretation of the dream. We know
from verse 1:17 that Daniel had understanding in
the interpretations of dreams and visions, so
now that Daniel knew the actual dream that
Nebuchadnezzar had, Daniel is now able to
provide the interpretation.

(Dan 2:25 KJV) Then Arioch
brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and
said thus unto him, I have found a man of the
captives of Judah, that will make known unto the
king the interpretation.

No doubt Arioch did not
relish the idea of slaying all the wise men of
Babylon, so he quickly took Daniel to the king and
tells the king about Daniel’s ability to interpret
the king’s dream.

(Dan 2:26 KJV) The king answered
and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar,
Art thou able to make known unto me the dream
which I have seen, and the interpretation
thereof?

The king immediately checks
with Daniel to be sure that he can provide both
the dream and the interpretation.

(Dan 2:27 KJV)Daniel
answered in the presence of the king, and said,
The secret which the king hath demanded cannot
the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians,
the soothsayers, show unto the king;

Daniel answers the king by
confirming that what the Chaldeans had told the
king was true about none of the wise men,
astrologers, magicians or soothsayers was able to
provide the actual dream given to the king. Daniel
includes himself as one who does not have the
required information, so he takes no credit for
his knowledge about the dream.

(Dan 2:28 KJV) But there is a God
in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh
known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be
in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions
of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

Daniel gives all credit to
his God for the revelation of the secret dream,
and tells the king that God has made known to
Nebuchadnezzar in his dream the events of the
future, including the downfall of Babylon in the
future and the kingdoms that would arise after
Babylon’s downfall.

(Dan 2:29 KJV) As for thee, O
king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy
bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he
that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what
shall come to pass.

Daniel explains to the king
that he was on his bed thinking about the future,
and the One who reveals secrets gave
Nebuchadnezzar the events of the future in a
dream.

(Dan 2:30 KJV) But as for me,
this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom
that I have more than any living, but for their
sakes that shall make known the interpretation
to the king, and that thou mightest know the
thoughts of thy heart.

Daniel stresses that the
secret dream was not given to Daniel because of
any special wisdom that Daniel possessed, but it
was given so the king could know the events of the
future, since he was thinking about these events
in his deeper thoughts before going to sleep. The
clause “for their sakes that shall make known” is
a Chaldee idiom, and means “to the intent that the
interpretation may be made known to the king.” The
clause “the thoughts of thy heart” refers to the
subject of thought before falling asleep.

(Dan 2:31 KJV) Thou, O king,
sawest, and behold a great image. This great
image, whose brightness was excellent, stood
before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

Daniel proceeds to tell the
king his dream by describing the image that
Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. There was only
one image—even though it was made of different
metals, representing different kingdoms. The
contrast in the dream is the kingdoms of the world
versus the kingdom of heaven. Though the kingdoms
were different, they were essentially one and the
same world power, and this world power would be
supplanted in the end by the kingdom of heaven.
Daniel makes it clear that the image was very
bright and terrifying.

(Dan 2:32 KJV) This image's head
was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of
silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

Daniel describes the details
of the image: 1) head of fine gold, 2) breast and
arms of silver, 3) belly and thighs of brass, and
in the following verse, 4) legs of iron and 5)
feet part iron and part clay.

(Dan 2:33 KJV) His legs of iron,
his feet part of iron and part of clay.

The metals of the image
declined in quality and specific gravity from the
head to its toes. Gold weighs more than silver,
silver more than brass, and brass more than iron.
Thus, the stability of the image decreases with
the different kingdoms, until it arrives at the
feet of iron and clay, which is very unstable.

We know from Daniel’s
interpretation of the dream that Nebuchadnezzar as
king of Babylon is the head of gold. We know from
Daniel’s other prophecies and history that Cyrus
as head of the Medo-Persian Empire is the breast
and arms of silver. The Greek Empire under
Alexander the Great is represented by the belly
and thighs of brass. The legs of iron represent
the Roman Empire, which ended up with two
divisions in the East and the West. The final form
of the Roman Empire is represented by the Ten Toes
of iron and clay, and it is yet to be established,
but the time is very short. The revival of the
Roman Empire in the European Economic Community in
the 50s is certainly the beginning stages of the
final form of the Roman Empire. Currently, the
European Union has 27 members, but something will
happen that will result in a Confederation of Ten
States with America representing the 11th
State. The final form of this empire will consist
of ten kings plus the Antichrist, who is the
eleventh king. This final form of Gentile rule
over the earth will be partly strong, as the iron
is strong, but it will be held together loosely,
just as clay does not bond together with iron. We
do not yet know which ten European Countries will
make up the ten toes, but it is clear that America
is the eleventh, and will be ruled over by
Antichrist who is the eleventh horn. We will
address this is more detail in later chapters.

(Dan 2:34 KJV) Thou sawest till
that a stone was cut out without hands, which
smote the image upon his feet that were of iron
and clay, and brake them to pieces.

Daniel continues to describe
the dream in which Nebuchadnezzar is observing the
image until a stone is cut out without benefit of
human hands, and the stone smites the image on its
feet made of iron and clay. At this point the feet
break into pieces.

Of course, the stone
typifies Jesus Christ and his Second Coming in
Power and Glory to take over the reign and rule of
the earth. He will set up his kingdom and all the
kingdoms of the earth will end permanently. This
kingdom is a literal, corporeal kingdom with Jesus
Christ as the sovereign king. This is the kingdom
that Christians have been praying would come for
two thousand years. Contrary to popular opinion
this kingdom has not yet commenced.

(Dan 2:35 KJV) Then was the iron,
the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold,
broken to pieces together, and became like the
chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the
wind carried them away, that no place was found
for them: and the stone that smote the image
became a great mountain, and filled the whole
earth.

The stone strikes the image
on the feet, but the result is the destruction of
the whole image, including the iron, the clay, the
brass, the silver and the gold.The image was broken into many pieces and
the wind carried them away like the chaff being
blown away when wheat is winnowed late at night.
No place was found for the pieces, but the stone
that struck the image became a “great mountain”. A
mountain in Scripture typifies a kingdom, and this
kingdom filled the whole earth.

(Dan 2:36 KJV) This is the dream;
and we will tell the interpretation thereof
before the king.

Daniel completes his
recitation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, and he
will now proceed with the interpretation of the
dream.

(Dan 2:37 KJV) Thou, O king, art
a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath
given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and
glory.

Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar
that he is a king of kings with a kingdom, great
power and strength and glory. However, Daniel
makes it very clear that God is the One Who sets
up kings, and God is the one who gave him this
kingdom.

Dan 2:38 KJV) And wheresoever the
children of men dwell, the beasts of the field
and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into
thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them
all. Thou art this head of gold.

Nebuchadnezzar was given
sovereign rule over a large portion of the earth,
including all kinds of people, the animals of the
field and the birds of the air. Daniel identifies
Nebuchadnezzar
as the head of gold.

(Dan 2:39 KJV) And after thee
shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee,
and another third kingdom of brass, which shall
bear rule over all the earth.

Daniel tactfully relates to
the king that another kingdom of inferior quality
would arise. This kingdom is identified as
Medo-Persia in 5:28 and 8:20. Also, a third
kingdom of brass would arise after the
Medo-Persian Empire. The Greeks were celebrated
for the brazen armor of their soldiers.

(Dan 2:40 KJV) And the fourth
kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as
iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things:
and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it
break in pieces and bruise.

Daniel also relates that a
fourth kingdom would arise that would be strong as
iron. Daniel addresses the character of the Roman
Empire rather than its territorial extent. In
righteous retribution, the Roman Empire in its
final form would break other kingdoms into pieces,
but it shall at last be broken into pieces by the
kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is a literal
kingdom with the heavens reigning over the earth,
and many in the Church will reign and rule in this
kingdom from the New Jerusalem.

Note: It is very important
for the Christian to understand that the word
“kingdom” literally means “king’s dominion” and it
refers to the actual reign of a king and not a
place where the kingdom is established. Numerous
Christians erroneously believe that to enter the
kingdom means to enter into heaven, but this is
not the meaning of the word. A Christian who
enters the kingdom of God actually enters into the
reign and rule of the sovereign king, Who is Jesus
Christ. When the time comes, Jesus Christ will
establish his kingdom. Christians are not
currently building the kingdom of God. This is
something that Jesus will do when He returns in
power and glory to establish his reign over the
earth. Christians who qualify will enter into the
kingdom with Jesus, but numerous Christians will
fail to enter into the kingdom because of sin and
disobedience. This is not a failure to enter
heaven, but a failure to enter into the reign and
rule of Jesus Christ. A failure to enter the
kingdom is the loss of the reward of the
inheritance, which is to reign and rule in the
kingdom of heaven.

(Dan 2:41 KJV) And whereas thou
sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay,
and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided;
but there shall be in it of the strength of the
iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed
with miry clay.

Daniel continues with a
description of the final form of the Roman Empire,
seen in the image as the feet and toes of mixed
clay and iron. This final form of the empire is
also described in Revelation as the Ten-Horned
Beast, or a confederation of ten nations linked
together loosely with a woman controlling the
beast. The woman is the Antichrist, who will be
the eleventh horn.

(Dan 2:42 KJV) And as the toes of
the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so
the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly
broken.

Since clay does not mingle
or bond with iron, the kingdom will be partly
strong within the individual nations, but the
empire will not have a strong bond between them.
We can see this in the European Union where the
individual nations are strong, but there are
differences and rivalries among the nations.

(Dan 2:43 KJV) And whereas thou
sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall
mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they
shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is
not mixed with clay.

The nations will group
themselves into a coalition of nations to benefit
economically and militarily, but the differences
and rivalries among the nations will remain, which
will make the empire unstable. Many leaders have
tried to unify the Roman Empire again as it was
under the Caesars, but no one has been successful.
The Antichrist will be successful in doing this
for a short period of time, but the empire will be
destroyed by Jesus Christ when He returns in power
and glory to reign and rule over the nations.

(Dan 2:44 KJV) And in the days of
these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the
kingdom shall not be left to other people, but
it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

In the days of
these ten kings the God of heaven will set up
his kingdom with Jesus Christ as the sovereign
ruler over the whole earth. This kingdom is
called the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of
Heaven, the Millennial Kingdom and a few other
names in Scripture. This kingdom will destroy
and replace all earthly kingdoms that have ruled
in the past six thousand years, and this kingdom
will never be destroyed or replaced by another.
Many have thought the kingdom would only last
1000 years, since it is described in Scripture
as lasting for a millennium. The truth is that
Jesus Christ and his saints will rule and reign
for one thousand years with a rod of iron. At
the end of the thousand years all opposition and
transgression will be completely wiped out and
there will be no unsaved people left on the
earth at that time. Consequently, the necessity
for reigning and ruling with a rod of iron will
dissipate, so this aspect of the kingdom will
cease. At that time all men will have been made
perfect in both the heavenly and earthly aspects
of the kingdom, so righteousness will reign
among all people without the necessity of
enforced righteousness. There will be no one
left on the earth with a depraved and rebellious
nature, so the rod of iron will no longer be
needed. The kingdom of God will continue
throughout eternity

(Dan 2:45 KJV) Forasmuch as thou
sawest that the stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands, and that it brake in
pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the
silver, and the gold; the great God hath made
known to the king what shall come to pass
hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the
interpretation thereof sure.

Daniel concludes his
interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in
reiterating the destruction of all earthly
kingdoms by God’s kingdom. Daniel tells
Nebuchadnezzar again that God has shown the king
the future, and that the dream is certain and the
interpretation is sure.

(Dan 2:46 KJV) Then the king
Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and
worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they
should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto
him.

Nebuchadnezzar falling
before Daniel and worshipping is the showing of
obeisance and honor to Daniel’s God and not to
Daniel personally. This is seen in the following
verse where the king pays honor and respect to
Daniel’s God. An oblation is a religious offering
and sweet odors refer to divine honors. We see the
same situation in churches today when members go
to the altar at the foot of the pastor and give
gifts to the deacons who pass the collection
plate. They are not worshipping the pastor and
they are not necessarily giving gifts to the
pastor—even though the pastor’s salary is paid
from these gifts. The actions of the king in this
verse are clearly the bestowment of gifts and
honors to Daniel’s God. Otherwise, Daniel would
have strongly objected to the actions of giving
gifts and honors to himself. Daniel has already
disclaimed any credit in verse 30 for giving the
dream and the interpretation to the king.

(Dan 2:47 KJV) The king answered
unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that
your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings,
and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest
reveal this secret.

In accord with the
explanation of the previous verse, the king
proclaims Daniel’s God as the God of gods, Lord of
kings, and revealer of secrets, and this is based
on Daniel’s revelation of the king’s dream. This
confirms that the king is giving credit to
Daniel’s God and not Daniel himself.

(Dan 2:48 KJV) Then the king made
Daniel a great man, and gave him many great
gifts, and made him ruler over the whole
province of Babylon, and chief of the governors
over all the wise men of Babylon.

The king greatly honored
Daniel and gave him many gifts. Daniel was also
promoted to be governor over the administrative
division of Babylon and the chief administrator
over all the wise men of Babylon.

(Dan 2:49 KJV) Then Daniel
requested of the king, and he set Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the
province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate
of the king.

Daniel asked the king to
make his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
administrators over the affairs of Babylon, while
Daniel governed from the primary administrative
office. The statement that Daniel sat in the gate
of the king means he was primary governor over the
affairs of Babylon.

Chapter
3
The Image of Nebuchadnezzar

This chapter narrates the
historical facts of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
being cast into the fiery furnace. There is
nothing that hints that this story is not
literally true. The events are definitely
supernatural, but still true and literal. There is
however a typological prophecy of the four
end-time churches of Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia and Laodicea in this story. Daniel is
a type of the Philadelphia church, while Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego are types of Thyatira,
Sardis and Laodicea. The key to the type is that
Daniel is not subject to the fiery furnace, just
as Philadelphia is not subject to the fiery trials
of the tribulation period. However, Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego are cast into the fiery
furnace, portraying the trial by fire of Thyatira,
Sardis and Laodicea during the 42 months of the
tribulation period.

(Dan 3:1 KJV) Nebuchadnezzar the
king made an image of gold, whose height was
threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six
cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in
the province of Babylon.

The story commences with
Nebuchadnezzar’s construction of a great image of
gold 60 cubits tall and six cubits wide. The
disproportionate measurements of the image
probably mean that the image of a man actually
stood on a base that was quite tall. The
Septuagint adds in this verse that it was the 18th
year of Nebuchadnezzar or 587 BC. This was one
year prior to the fall of Jerusalem. Daniel and
his friends would have been in their early
thirties at this time.

The plain of Dura still
retains its name today and on one of several
mounds a giant pedestal has been found that may
have been the pedestal on which the image stood.
Clearly, the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream declaring him as the head of gold influenced
his decision to build this giant image of gold in
honor of himself.

(Dan 3:2 KJV) Then Nebuchadnezzar
the king sent to gather together the princes,
the governors, and the captains, the judges, the
treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and
all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the
dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the
king had set up.

Nebuchadnezzar summoned
virtually every important person in the kingdom to
come to the dedication of the golden image. Since
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were rulers over
the affairs of the province of Babylon, they were
certainly required to attend the ceremony of
dedication. The “princes” were the satraps or
chief representatives of the king and would have
been the top leaders over the provinces of
Babylon. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would most
likely have been included in the group. Satrap was
a Medo-Persian term and not Babylonian. The
governors were the civil administrators, and the
captains were the prefects or the military
commanders. The judges were those skilled in the
law and were the administrators of the law. The
treasurers administered the funds of the kingdom,
and the counselors were advisers to those in
authority. The sheriffs were those who passed
judgments in legal matters. The “rulers of the
provinces” were probably subordinates to the
satraps.

(Dan 3:3 KJV) Then the princes,
the governors, and captains, the judges, the
treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and
all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered
together unto the dedication of the image that
Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they
stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had
set up.

All important leaders in the
kingdom of Babylon were gathered together to
dedicate the image. They were required to stand
before the image that the king had set up in
preparation for worship and honor to the image.
Although not stated, the image was almost
certainly that of Nebuchadnezzar.

(Dan 3:4 KJV) Then an herald
cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people,
nations, and languages,

At the appropriate time a
herald cried out to the people commanding them of
the appropriate action at the time to be signaled
by the various instruments.

(Dan 3:5 KJV) That at what time
ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of
music, ye fall down and worship the golden image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

The signal was to be the
sound of various instruments. The elaborate
preparation of the image and the addition of
various musical instruments were clearly designed
to make the occasion an emotional one, just as
decoration and music are employed in religious
ceremony today.

The cornet is a wind
instrument like the French horn. The flute is a
piped instrument, but was not blown transversely
as our flute, but by mouthpieces at the end. The
sackbut was a triangular stringed instrument with
short strings making a high sharp sound. The
psaltery was a kind of harp, and the dulcimer was
a bagpipe with two pipes through a leather bag
that emitted a melancholy sound pleasing to the
ear. The musical instruments were clearly planned
to elicit an emotional response during the worship
of the image.

(Dan 3:6 KJV) And whoso falleth
not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be
cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

The worship of the image was
clearly obligatory, as a penalty was declared for
failure to fall down and worship the image.
Nebuchadnezzar’s previous confession of God did
not prevent him from being a worshipper of idols,
as each nation had its own idols, but in addition
to these they worshipped the idols of other
nations. The exclusive worship of one god was only
found among the Jews at this time, so
Nebuchadnezzar clearly did not anticipate a
problem with the worship of his image. Currently,
three religions require exclusive worship of one
god and those religions are Judaism, Christianity
and Islam.

This worship of the image of
Nebuchadnezzar is a clear type of the coming
worship of Antichrist. The worship of Antichrist
will also be obligatory in the middle of the
tribulation period with the institution of the
Mark of the Beast.

The penalty for not
worshipping the image was to be cast into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace. Capital
punishment will also be used in the coming worship
of Antichrist.

NOTE: This historical event
is also a figurative type of the coming
tribulation period, when the three churches of
Thyatira (Catholic), Sardis (Protestant) and
Laodicea (Charismatic/Pentecostal) will be cast
into the first half of the tribulation period to
be severely persecuted by the fires of the
tribulation period. This testing will last for 42
months before the Main Harvest Rapture of the
remainder of the Church takes place. Daniel is a
type of the Philadelphia church, which is removed
before Antichrist appears to persecute the
Christians. This is why Daniel was not subject to
the mandate to bow down and worship the image of
gold.

(Dan 3:7 KJV) Therefore at that
time, when all the people heard the sound of the
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all
kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and
the languages, fell down, and worshipped the
golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had
set up.

At the appropriate time when
the music played all people from every nation and
tongue were to fall down and worship the golden
image. The people from every nation and tongue
typifies the Church, which is composed of people
from every nation and tongue throughout the world.

(Dan 3:8 KJV) Wherefore at that
time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused
the Jews.

Apparently, Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego had known about the worship
service and were purposely absent from the
service. However, the original sect of Chaldeans
knew about their absence and their exclusive
worship of One God. These Chaldeans came near to
the king and broached accusations against these
Jewish men for their failure to attend the service
and worship the image.

(Dan 3:9 KJV) They spake and said
to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for
ever.

These Chaldeans spoke in
address to the king, and spoke with the customary
exclamation of salute to the king.

(Dan 3:10 KJV) Thou, O king, hast
made a decree, that every man that shall hear
the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music,
shall fall down and worship the golden image:

The Chaldeans repeat to the
king the orders from the king about hearing the
music and falling down to worship the golden
image.

(Dan 3:11 KJV) And whoso falleth
not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

They also repeat the penalty
required for failure to bow down and worship the
image, which was to be cast into the burning fiery
furnace.

(Dan 3:12 KJV) There are certain
Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the
province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded
thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the
golden image which thou hast set up.

The Chaldeans
identify the “certain Jews” who were set over
the affairs of the province of Babylon as
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. There is obvious
jealousy in these accusations because of the
positions occupied by Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego. They told the story of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego in a manner that would
incite the king to anger against these three
Jews.

(Dan 3:13 KJV) Then
Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to
bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they
brought these men before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar in his great
anger commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to
be brought
before him.

(Dan 3:14 KJV) Nebuchadnezzar
spake and said unto them, Is it true, O
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve
my gods, nor worship the golden image which I
have set up?

Nebuchadnezzar asks the
three Jews if it is true that they do not serve
the king’s gods, nor worship the golden image,
which the king set up.

(Dan 3:15 KJV) Now if ye be ready
that at what time ye hear the sound of the
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and
dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down
and worship the image which I have made; well:
but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same
hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace;
and who is that God that shall deliver you out
of my hands?

Nebuchadnezzar gives the
three Jews another opportunity to bow down and
worship the image. The king also specifies the
penalty of death in the fiery furnace for failure
to bow down and worship.

(Dan 3:16 KJV) Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer
thee in this matter.

The three Jews respond to
the king in a matter of fact manner. A paraphrase
of the last clause is “O Nebuchadnezzar, we will
answer you honestly and truthfully in this matter.

(Dan 3:17 KJV) If it be so, our
God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us
out of thine hand, O king.

They continue to answer the
king by stating that their God is able to deliver
them out of the fiery furnace. They also express
absolute confidence in their belief that God will
deliver them out of the king’s hand. There is a
distinction here between being delivered out of
the fiery furnace, and being delivered out of the
king’s hand. They will be delivered out of the
king’s hand whether they live or die, but God may
even deliver them out of the fiery furnace.

(Dan 3:18 KJV) But if not, be it
known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve
thy gods, nor worship the golden image which
thou hast set up.

The three Jews also state
that even if their God decided not to deliver them
out of the fiery furnace, they will still not
serve the king’s gods nor worship the golden
image, which the king set up.

(Dan 3:19 KJV) Then was
Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his
visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded
that they should heat the furnace one seven
times more than it was wont to be heated.

This refusal to worship the
golden image greatly angered the king, and his
attitude toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
greatly changed at their refusal to worship his
image.

(Dan 3:20 KJV) And he commanded
the most mighty men that were in his army to
bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to
cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

The king ordered some of his
strongest soldiers to tie up the three and throw
them in the fiery furnace.

(Dan 3:21 KJV) Then these men
were bound in their coats, their hosen, and
their hats, and their other garments, and were
cast into the midst of the burning fiery
furnace.

Then the three men were
bound in all of their clothes, including their
hats and to be cast into the midst of the burning
fiery furnace. As stated earlier their being cast
into the fiery furnace is a prophetic type of the
three churches of Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea
being cast into the fires of the tribulation
period. This is also a devotional type of
Christians being tried in Gehenna fire, which is
the judgment fire of God. The importance of the
three men being case into the fire with all their
clothes portrays the fact that Christians will
have their works tried by Gehenna fire. Clothes in
Scripture typify the works of a person. This is
seen in the fig leaves that Adam and Eve made for
themselves. It is also seen in the Scriptures that
talk about not being found naked at the time of
the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is also seen in
the bride who sews her own wedding dress. It is
the works of the Christian that will be tried in
Gehenna Fire. We will discuss this in more detail
in the following verses.

(Dan 3:22 KJV) Therefore because
the king's commandment was urgent, and the
furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire
slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego.

The exceeding heat of the
furnace depicts the mighty destructive power of
Gehenna fire, which is the destroying fire of God.
Gehenna fire is the destroying fire of God, and it
is able to kill or destroy both body and soul. The
bodies of unbelievers will be destroyed in Gehenna
fire and the souls of Christians can be destroyed
in Gehenna Fire. The hats on the three men typify
soul salvation, as seen in the helmet of salvation
in the whole armor of God. The slaying of the
soldiers depict the killing of bodies by Gehenna
Fire.

(Dan 3:23 KJV) And these three
men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down
bound into the midst of the burning fiery
furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego fell down into the middle of the fiery
furnace. As stated above, the three men in the
fiery furnace typify various future events, such
as the three churches in the fires of the first
half of the tribulation period, the judgment by
fire of all Christians at the Judgment Seat of
Christ and the time of Jacob’s trouble, when the
Jews upon the earth will be greatly persecuted by
Antichrist during the last half of the tribulation
period.

(Dan 3:24 KJV) Then
Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose
up in haste, and spake, and said unto his
counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound
into the midst of the fire? They answered and
said unto the king, True, O king.

The king became astonished
when he saw the figures of four men in the middle
of the fire instead of three men. The following
verse clearly identifies this fourth individual as
the Son of God, and we know that this is the
preincarnate Christ, which is identified in
theological textbooks as a Christophany. It is the
appearance of the Christ before His incarnation as
Jesus. The literal teaching is clear that Christ
was with the three men in the fiery furnace, and
the typological teaching is clear that Christ will
be with the three churches in the tribulation
period, with the individual Christians at the
Judgment Seat of Christ and with the Jews during
their tribulation during the last half of the
tribulation period.

(Dan 3:25 KJV) He answered and
said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the
midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and
the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

The three young men were
walking in the middle of the fire but the fire did
not hurt them, and the fourth one with them was
Christ, as stated above. As stated earlier the
fiery furnace is a type of Gehenna fire, which is
the judgment fire of God. This fire will try the
works of all of God’s people and if Jesus Christ
is with them in the fire, no hurt will come to
them. As stated in the New Testament in
Revelation, overcomers will not be hurt by the
second death, which is the Lake of Fire or Gehenna
fire.

NOTE: All Christians will be
baptized in Gehenna fire to try their works. If
their works consist of gold, silver and precious
stones, then the works will not be burned and they
will receive a reward. If the works are wood, hay
and stubble, then the works will be burned up in
Gehenna fire, which is the destroying fire of God.

(Dan 3:26 KJV) Then
Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the
burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of
the most high God, come forth, and come hither.
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth
of the midst of the fire.

In his astonishment,
Nebuchadnezzar comes near to the mouth of the
burning fiery furnace and asks Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego to come forth and they came out of
the fire.

(Dan 3:27 KJV) And the princes,
governors, and captains, and the king's
counsellors, being gathered together, saw these
men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power,
nor was an hair of their head singed, neither
were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire
had passed on them.

And all the people saw the
men come out of the fire. The men were about 30
years old at the time of the trial by fire. The
fire had no effect on the men and not a hair of
their head was singed, neither were their clothes
burned and they did not even smell of smoke. The
same will be true of faithful Christians who are
baptized in Gehenna fire. Their lives will pass
through the fire with no effect on them. Clothes
symbolize the works of Christians, so the type
portrays that their works came through the fire
without even smelling of smoke, much less being
destroyed by fire.

(Dan 3:28 KJV) Then
Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the
God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath
sent his angel, and delivered his servants that
trusted in him, and have changed the king's
word, and yielded their bodies, that they might
not serve nor worship any god, except their own
God.

Nebuchadnezzar then speaks
and blesses the God of Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego and credits their God for sending the
angelto deliver them
from death, negating the king’s order that they
were to be burned to death. They were no longer
ordered to worship the golden image.

(Dan 3:29 KJV) Therefore I make a
decree, That every people, nation, and language,
which speak any thing amiss against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in
pieces, and their houses shall be made a
dunghill: because there is no other God that can
deliver after this sort.

Nebuchadnezzar
makes another decree that no one will be allowed
to speak anything against Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego’s God, and if they do, they will be cut
to pieces and their homes would be destroyed.

(Dan 3:30 KJV) Then the king
promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the
province of Babylon.

The king then promotes
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the affairs of
Babylon.

Chapter
4
The Second Dream of Nebuchadnezzar

It has been calculated that
Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream occurred in about
his 35th year of reigning as king, so
this would be about 17 years after the incident of
the fiery furnace in chapter 3.

The King’s Proclamation
(4:1-3)

(Dan 4:1 KJV) Nebuchadnezzar the
king, unto all people, nations, and languages,
that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied
unto you.

Nebuchadnezzar
makes a proclamation to all the people of the
earth about his knowledge of the God that reigns
in the affairs of men. God had clearly shown the
king that He is able
to preserve those who put their faith and
trust in Him.

(Dan 4:2 KJV) I thought it good
to show the signs and wonders that the high God
hath wrought toward me.

Nebuchadnezzar declares that
it was through the miraculous signs and wonders
that God had revealed to him that he had learned
of the power and might of God, and God is
sovereign and exerts his will in the affairs of
men and in His eternal kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar
makes it clear that God rules according to His
will and He uses those He chooses as his
instruments. To resist the will of God is
foolishness at best.

(Dan 4:3 KJV) How great are his
signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his
dominion is from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar exclaims how
great the signs are of God and how mighty are his
wonders.He also
attests to the “everlasting kingdom” of God and
how God’s dominion encompasses all generations.

The King’s Tree Dream
(4:4-18)

(Dan 4:4 KJV) I Nebuchadnezzar
was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my
palace:

Nebuchadnezzar proceeds to
relate the details of his second dream. When
Nebuchadnezzar had this dream he was at rest in
his house and he was very prosperous in his
palace.

(Dan 4:5 KJV) I saw a dream which
made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and
the visions of my head troubled me.

As in the first dream, this
second dream made Nebuchadnezzar afraid, and his
contemplations about the dream and the ideas that
he conjured up in his own mind in regard to the
dream greatly troubled him.

(Dan 4:6 KJV) Therefore made I a
decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon
before me, that they might make known unto me
the interpretation of the dream.

The king followed
his previous actions in calling for the wise men
of Babylon that they might interpret the dream
for him.

(Dan 4:7 KJV) Then came in the
magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and
the soothsayers: and I told the dream before
them; but they did not make known unto me the
interpretation thereof.

This time the king actually
relates the dream to the wise men of Babylon, but
they did not make known the interpretation of the
dream to the king. Apparently, the wise men had
become a little wiser and did not attempt to make
up an interpretation of the dream. The question
naturally arises why the king called in the wise
men first, when he already trusted in Daniel’s
ability to not only interpret dreams, but to
actually relate the dream. It is my belief that
the king intended to call in Daniel anyway, but he
wanted to test the wise men to see what they would
say about the dream. The wise men probably had an
inkling that the king would also call in Daniel,
so they did not attempt to deceive the king with a
contrived interpretation of the dream.

(Dan 4:8 KJV) But at the last
Daniel came in before me, whose name was
Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god,
and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and
before him I told the dream, saying,

The phrase “But at the last”
supports my conclusion that the king desired to
see what the wise men would say about the dream
before he called in Daniel to give him the true
interpretation of the dream. As stated above, this
was probably a test for the wise men and they
passed the test by deferring to Daniel as the
interpreter of dreams. Daniel was in a high level
position in the kingdom, so he was not a member of
the counsel of wise men. It may be that the king
was simply following protocol in asking the wise
men to interpret the dream before he went to
Daniel.

The king calls Daniel by his
Babylonian name, which was derived from the pagan
god Bel. The king makes reference to the fact that
the spirit of the holy God resides in Daniel, so
the king acknowledges that Daniel’s God is the
true holy and righteous God of all creation. This
is confirmed in the proclamation in the first
three verses. In spite of this acknowledgement,
the king was still serving his god. The word for
God can be little g or capital G, but it is in the
plural. It can still be translated as God, even
though plural, since God is a Trinity. The word
Elohym is also translated as God even though it is
also plural.

(Dan 4:9 KJV) O Belteshazzar,
master of the magicians, because I know that the
spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no
secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my
dream that I have seen, and the interpretation
thereof.

Nebuchadnezzar expresses
complete confidence in Daniel because the spirit
of the holy God is in him, and he also states that
there is no secret that gives Daniel trouble. The
king calls Daniel “master of the magicians”
because he was wiser than all the others and not
because he was their leader. This reiterates the
statement above that the king intended to come to
Daniel all alone to get the true interpretation of
his dream. The king then asks Daniel to interpret
his dream. Daniel does not have to give the dream
first as he did in the image of the man given
earlier.

(Dan 4:10 KJV) Thus were the
visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and
behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and
the height thereof was great.

The king relates the dream
to Daniel in its several parts with details. In
his dream there was a tree that was very strong
and its height reached unto heaven, and the tree
could be seen from all over the earth.

Note: In Scripture, a tree
symbolizes an earthly kingdom. This will be
confirmed in the interpretation that Daniel gives
later.

(Dan 4:11 KJV) The tree grew, and
was strong, and the height thereof reached unto
heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all
the earth:

The tree grew and was
strong, and the height of the tree reached unto
heaven and could be seen from all over the earth.

(Dan 4:12 KJV) The leaves thereof
were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it
was meat for all: the beasts of the field had
shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven
dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was
fed of it.

The leaves were
pretty to look at and the fruit of the tree was
plentiful and sufficient for everyone. The
beasts of the field had shade under this tree,
and the fowls of the heaven dwelled in the
branches of the tree. The beasts of the field
represent all of mankind and the fowls of the
heaven typify beings in the spiritual realm—both
good and evil. Thus, the saved and the unsaved
of earth were part of this kingdom, and the good
and evil spirit beings dwelled in this kingdom.
We know from the interpretation by Daniel seen
later that the tree symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar
and his kingdom.

(Dan 4:13 KJV) I saw in the
visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a
watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

In Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream, a watcher (i.e., messenger) who is a
“holy one” comes down from heaven and makes a
proclamation.

(Dan 4:14 KJV) He cried aloud,
and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off
his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter
his fruit: let the beasts get away from under
it, and the fowls from his branches:

The messenger proclaims that
the tree is to be cut down, and its branches are
to be cut off and its leaves removed and its fruit
scattered. The beasts were run off from the tree
and the fowls were forced to leave its branches.

(Dan 4:15 KJV) Nevertheless leave
the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a
band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of
the field; and let it be wet with the dew of
heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts
in the grass of the earth:

Even though the tree is to
be cut down, the stump is to be left with it roots
intact and a band of iron and brass was to be
around the stump. The stump was to remain in the
tender grass of the field, and it was to be wet
with the dew of heaven. The tree’s portion was to
be with the beasts of the earth and in the grass
of the earth.

(Dan 4:16 KJV) Let his heart be
changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be
given unto him: and let seven times pass over
him.

The tree was to be given a
heart of a beast (i.e., changed from the heart of
a man) and seven times were to pass over him. We
know that the literal interpretation of this
passage places Nebuchadnezzar as the tree, and he
was to have the heart of a beast for seven years.
A “time” is a year, so seven times is seven years.

Note: The tree literally
symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom.
Throughout Scripture a kingdom and a king cannot
be separated. There can be no king without a
kingdom and no kingdom without a king, so
Scripture equates the two. Also, the beasts of the
field represents the base nature of mankind
without the supernatural intervention of God via
the Holy Spirit. The stump with its roots
symbolizes the origin and source of nutrients for
the king and his kingdom. Thus, the stump with its
roots typifies God as the source of life,
nourishment and growth of the kingdom. Thus, the
tree can be hewn down, but the stump and roots
remain intact, as the source of the tree. This is
seen in Nebuchadnezzar’s proclamation of the
sovereignty of God and the One who sets up kings
and kingdoms. He is also the one who brings down
kings and kingdoms.

(Dan 4:17 KJV) This matter is by
the decree of the watchers, and the demand by
the word of the holy ones: to the intent that
the living may know that the most High ruleth in
the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever
he will, and setteth up over it the basest of
men.

This matter of the tree
being cut down is by the decree of the watchers
(i.e., messengers) and the word of the holy ones.
Holy ones in the plural refer to the Trinity of
God, including God the Father, God the Son and God
the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is seen in Scripture
starting in Genesis and continuing through
Revelation. The most High refers to God the Father
and his kingdom, which encompasses all kingdoms of
the earth and everything in the universe. Even
Satan as the god of this earth is still subject to
the authority of God the Father. God the Father
rules over everything in the universe, and
includes his control over the atoms, the
molecules, and everything that exists. There is
not one atom running loose in the universe that is
not controlled by our heavenly Father.

This verse is clear that God
even sets up over the earthly kingdoms the basest
of men, who do not subject themselves in obedience
to God the Father. However, He is in authority
over them and their kingdoms and earthly reign are
subject to his oversight and decisions about how
long they endure.

(Dan 4:18 KJV) This dream I king
Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O
Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation
thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my
kingdom are not able to make known unto me the
interpretation: but thou art able; for the
spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Nebuchadnezzar confirms that
this is the dream that he had, and he beseeches
Daniel to declare the interpretation of the dream.
The king confirms that all the wise men of the
kingdom could not interpret the dream, but he
expresses complete confidence that Daniel will be
able to interpret the dream, since the spirit of
the Holy God is in him. Nebuchadnezzar is 100%
correct in his assessment of Daniel’s ability and
influence by the Holy Spirit.

The
Vision Interpreted (4:19-27)

(Dan 4:19 KJV) Then Daniel, whose
name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one
hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king
spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the
dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble
thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord,
the dream be to them that hate thee, and the
interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Daniel was astonished and
troubled by the dream for a moment in time. The
original of the word translated “one hour” often
means a moment or a short time. It is highly
doubtful that Daniel made Nebuchadnezzar wait one
hour before he started interpreting the dream.
Clearly, Daniel immediately knew the
interpretation of the dream, and he was troubled
by its meaning. It seems clear that Daniel had
come to respect Nebuchadnezzar over the years in
service to him. It is also clear that
Nebuchadnezzar respected Daniel. Many kings would
have punished a prophet who gave a negative dream
interpretation, but Nebuchadnezzar assured Daniel
that he could speak freely. Daniel begins his
interpretation by stating that he would prefer
that the dream and the meaning of the dream were
for his enemies, but Daniel must speak the truth,
even though bad news for the king.

(Dan
4:20 KJV)The tree
that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong,
whose height reached unto the heaven, and the
sight thereof to all the earth;

(Dan 4:21 KJV) Whose leaves were
fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was
meat for all; under which the beasts of the
field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls
of the heaven had their habitation:

Daniel repeats the
description of the greatness of the tree to
Nebuchadnezzar in these two verses. Daniel
tactfully gives the good news first. In Scripture
a tree typifies a kingdom with the trunk typifying
the king, the branches the infrastructure of the
kingdom and the leaves typify the works. The fruit
would represent the revenue to the kingdom and
there was prosperity to everyone in the kingdom.
The beasts of the field dwelling in the shadow of
the tree typify dependent nations living under the
protection of the kingdom. The fowls typify the
spirit beings operating in the kingdom, both good
and evil.

(Dan 4:22 KJV) It is thou, O
king, that art grown and become strong: for thy
greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven,
and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

Daniel speaks pointedly
without compromising the truth and informs the
king that he is the tree who has grown to be a
powerful king over a powerful kingdom. His
importance is relevant to God and his dominion was
known all over the earth.

(Dan 4:23 KJV) And whereas the
king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down
from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and
destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots
thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron
and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and
let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let
his portion be with the beasts of the field,
till seven times pass over him;

The watcher the king saw
would have been a guardian angel who came down
from heaven and stated that the tree was to be cut
down and destroyed. The stump with its roots was
to be left unharmed, which implies that the tree
would be restored at some point in time. The iron
and brass bands around the stump typify several
things. Iron symbolizes strength and solidity
while brass symbolizes judgment. The cutting down
of the tree was a judgment from God and the
punishment was certain and unchangeable.

Iron also symbolizes hard
times, great troubles and even crosses. The tree
also typifies the nation of Israel, which would be
cut down in its prime and the Jews would be
dispersed throughout the world for a period of
time in what has become known as the Diaspora. The
Jews have suffered great persecution, hard times
and they ceased to be a nation. The stump or root
is Jesus Christ who guaranteed that Israel would
once again sprout from the tree and become a
nation once again. This took place in 1948 and
Israel continues to grow as a nation.

(Dan 4:24 KJV) This is the
interpretation, O king, and this is the decree
of the most High, which is come upon my lord the
king:

Daniel now provides the
interpretation of the dream to the king, and he
emphasizes that this judgment is a decree from the
Most High God that is handed down to
Nebuchadnezzar. In the same manner the decree
about Israel being cut off as a nation and going
through persecution for a set period of time is
sure and certain. Israel’s period of punishment is
for a seventy week period, which means a period of
490 years. This will be explained in chapter nine
of this exegesis.

(Dan 4:25 KJV) That they shall
drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field, and they shall
make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall
wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times
shall pass over thee, till thou know that the
most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and
giveth it to whomsoever he will.

The king was to be driven
out of his position of authority as king of
Babylon and he would live like a wild beast for a
period of seven years. This prophecy—as seen
below—would be fulfilled in about a year.This prophecy also
points to the dispersion of Israel, and it was
fulfilled in 70 AD. The tree stump began to put
forth shoots and leaves in 1948 when Israel was
reestablished as a nation.

Nebuchadnezzar literally
lived among the beasts of the field for a period
of seven years before he was returned and became
king over Babylon once again. Also, Israel would
and has dwelled among the Gentile nations for many
years. A beast in Scripture typifies a Gentile
nation with animosity against Israel. Thus, Israel
dwelled among the beasts for a long time prior to
its restoration in 1948. The Gentile nations as
beasts will be addressed again in chapter seven.

(Dan 4:26 KJV) And whereas they
commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots;
thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that
thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

Just as the stump guaranteed
the return of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom to him, it
also guarantees the return of the nation of Israel
to be the premier nation of the world. Just as
Nebuchadnezzar was returned to his kingdom when he
acknowledged that the Most High rules in the
affairs of men, Israel will be returned to its
position when it acknowledges that God rules over
the earth. Just as Nebuchadnezzar spent 7 years
under great distress and hardship, Israel will
spend seven years under great distress and
hardship during the seven years of tribulation
that are coming upon the earth to try those who
dwell on the earth. The seven years of tribulation
for Israel is the last week of Daniel’s seventy
weeks. Just as Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment for his
transgression against God ended after seven years,
Israel’s punishment for its transgression against
will end after seven years.

(Dan 4:27 KJV) Wherefore, O king,
let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and
break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine
iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it
may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

At the end of Daniel’s
interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he
counsels the king to end his sins be living
righteously and stopping his iniquities by showing
mercy to the poor, in order for him to experience
peace for a longer period of time. It seems that
Nebuchadnezzar may have followed Daniel’s advice
for his punishment was delayed for a period of 12
months.

(Dan 4:28 KJV) All this came upon
the king Nebuchadnezzar.

This statement
confirms that everything stated above came to
pass for Nebuchadnezzar.

(Dan 4:29 KJV) At the end of
twelve months he walked in the palace of the
kingdom of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar had a period
of tranquility for 12 months before judgment came
upon him because of his pride and failure to
acknowledge God as ruler in the affairs of men.
His punishment came upon him as he was walking in
the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

(Dan 4:30 KJV) The king spake,
and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have
built for the house of the kingdom by the might
of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

In his failure to
acknowledge God, Nebuchadnezzar was very prideful
and took full credit for the building of the
kingdom of Babylon. He ascribed the great nation
as a product of the might of his power and claimed
all the honor for himself without acknowledging
God.

(Dan 4:31 KJV) While the word was
in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from
heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee
it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

While the king was
still taking credit for the kingdom, a voice
came from heaven and declared that
Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom “is” taken from him.

(Dan 4:32 KJV) And they shall
drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be
with the
beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat
grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over
thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth
in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever he will.

As stated in the
interpretation, God declares Nebuchadnezzar’s
judgment, which is to be driven from men to dwell
with the beasts of the field to eat grass and be
like this for seven years, until he comes to know
that God rules in the affairs of men and sets up
whomsoever he pleases. God is the One who gave
Nebuchadnezzar power and glory, and it would take
him seven years to learn this.

(Dan 4:33 KJV) The same hour was
the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he
was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen,
and his body was wet with the dew of heaven,
till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers,
and his nails like birds' claws.

The very same hour that God
pronounced the judgment on Nebuchadnezzar, he was
driven from men and ate grass like the oxen. He
slept in the open without shelter and his body
became wet with the dew of heaven. His hair grew
and became matted until it looked like eagles’
feathers, and his nails became like bird’s claws.

(Dan 4:34 KJV) And at the end of
the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes
unto heaven, and mine understanding returned
unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I
praised and honoured him that liveth for ever,
whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and
his kingdom is from generation to generation:

At the end of the allotted
time of punishment set by God, Nebuchadnezzar
looked up to heaven in abject humility and his
right mind returned to him. He blessed the Most
High and he praised and honored the God that lives
forever, and whose dominion and kingdom includes
all generations.

(Dan 4:35 KJV) And all the
inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:
and he doeth according to his will in the army
of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto
him, What doest thou?

The inhabitants of the earth
are nothing compared to God, and God does all
thing s in heaven and earth in accordance with his
will. There is no one who can overrule God’s
authority and power, and no one has the authority
to question anything that God does.

(Dan 4:36 KJV) At the same time
my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of
my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned
unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought
unto me; and I was established in my kingdom,
and excellent majesty was added unto me.

At the same time that
Nebuchadnezzar looked up to heaven and
acknowledged God, his reason returned and he was
in his right mind. His kingdom was restored to him
and he received honor and glory.

In like manner, the nation
of Israel at the end of the seven-year tribulation
period will look up and acknowledge Jesus Christ
as their Messiah, and the nation of Israel will be
restored as the premier nation on the earth.

(Dan 4:37 KJV) Now I
Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the
King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and
his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride
he is able to abase.

Nebuchadnezzar sums up his
experience by praising, extolling and honoring the
King of heaven. All of God’s works are true and
all of his ways are righteous. God is able to
humble the arrogant and bring them to their knees.

The Feast of
Belshazzer (Chap. 5)

The events in the first four
chapters pertained to the reign of Nebuchadnezzar
who ruled for 43 years and died in 562 BC. The
years from 562 BC until the overthrow of the
kingdom by Cyrus in 539 BC involved deterioration,
intrigue and murder. Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded
by his son Evil-Merodach, who reigned for two
years (562-560 BC). He was murdered in August 560
by Neriglissar, son-in-law to Nebuchadnezzar and
his own brother-in-law. Neriglissar ruled four
years (560-556 BC). He is the Nergal-Sharezer
mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3. At his death, he was
succeeded by his young son Labashi-Marduk, who
ruled only two months before being assassinated.
He was succeeded by Nabonidus, who reigned 17
years (556-539 BC).

Nabonidus restored much of
the glory that existed under Nebuchadnezzar.
Belshazzar was the eldest son of Nabonidus and was
appointed as coregent. As coregent he was called
king and exercised kingly authority even though
Nabonidus occupied the throne.

The Revelry of the King
(5:1-4)

(Dan 5:1 KJV) Belshazzar the king
made a great feast to a thousand of his lords,
and drank wine before the thousand.

Babylon was under siege by
the Persian army led by Ugbaru, governor of
Gutium, at the time that Belshazzar was having a
great banquet for 1000 of his nobles. Belshazzar
probably considered his city secure because of its
massive walls and the fact that the city had
supplies to last for 20 years. He may also have
wanted to show contempt for the Persians and
exhibit his unconcern to the people of Babylon.

(Dan 5:2 KJV) Belshazzar, whiles
he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the
golden and silver vessels which his father
Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which
was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his
princes, his wives, and his concubines, might
drink therein.

The banquet itself
showed contempt for the power of man, but
Belshazzar made the grave mistake of showing
contempt for the God of the Jews. He commanded
the vessels of the temple to be brought in to
the banquet, so the king, his princes, his wives
and his concubines might drink from the holy
vessels.

(Dan 5:3 KJV) Then they brought
the golden vessels that were taken out of the
temple of the house of God which was at
Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his
wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

The vessels were brought out
and the king and his nobles commenced to drink
from them.

(Dan 5:4 KJV) They drank wine,
and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of
brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

The king and nobles not only
desecrated the holy vessels by drinking from them,
but they praised the gods of gold, silver, brass,
iron, wood and stone. This was blasphemy against
God, and was the straw that broke the camel’s back
in what God allows in the affairs of men. As
Nebuchadnezzar stated in chapter 4, God sets up
kings and He takes down kings, and Belshazzar was
about to be taken down in his final act of
contempt for God. He would not only forfeit the
kingdom that very night, but he would forfeit his
life as well.

(Dan 5:5 KJV) In the same hour
came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote
over against the candlestick upon the plaster of
the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw
the part of the hand that wrote.

In the same hour that they
drank from the holy vessels, a man’s hand began
writing on the plastered wall, and Belshazzar saw
the part of the hand that wrote.

(Dan 5:6 KJV) Then the king's
countenance was changed, and his thoughts
troubled him, so that the joints of his loins
were loosed, and his knees smote one against
another.

Belshazzar’s facial
expression was changed drastically and he became
very fearful, such that his hip joints began to
shake and his knees began to shake and hit one
another. No doubt, his troubled thoughts turned to
the fact that he was blaspheming the God of
Israel, who was exalted by the Great King
Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar was very likely
attempting to undo the influence of Nebuchadnezzar
in exalting and honoring the God of Israel.
Belshazzar was blaspheming the God of Israel by
drinking from the holy vessels, so the disembodied
hand writing a message on the plaster wall was of
utmost importance to Belshazzar.

(Dan 5:7 KJV) The king cried
aloud to bring in the astrologers, the
Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king
spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon,
Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me
the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed
with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his
neck, and shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom.

Immediately, the king cried
out for the wise men of Babylon to come in and
read the writing on the wall, and whoever was able
to read the writing would be greatly honored and
would have a gold chain placed upon his neck and
would be the third ruler in the kingdom. This
statement confirms that Belshazzar was the
co-regent with his father Nabonidus and that
Belshazzar was second ruler in the kingdom.

(Dan 5:8 KJV) Then came in all
the king's wise men: but they could not read the
writing, nor make known to the king the
interpretation thereof.

All the
king’s wise men came in to attempt to read the
writing, but they could not read it.

(Dan 5:9 KJV) Then was king
Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance
was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

Then, Belshazzar became
greatly troubled and his countenance was changed
again—no doubt to extreme fear—and his lords were
astonished at the fear that he exhibited.

(Dan 5:10 KJV) Now the queen by
reason of the words of the king and his lords
came into the banquet house: and the queen spake
and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy
thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance
be changed:

The discussion between the
king and his lords even brought the queen into the
banquet hall. Apparently, the uproar and sound of
confusion from the hall reached her ears and
brought her to assess the situation. The queen
paid homage to Belshazzar and attempted to allay
his fear by giving him information about Daniel.

The word for queen means
queen or queen mother, so the queen could have
been Belshazzar’s mother, grandmother or even the
widow of Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had died
23 years earlier at age 62, and his widow would
most likely have been much younger than he. The
queen knew a lot about Daniel and his relationship
with Nebuchadnezzar, so this is highly likely.
Belshazzar’s mother or even grandmother would most
likely not have spoken so highly of
Daniel—especially concerning his spiritual
strengths, as seen in the following verses.

(Dan 5:11 KJV) There is a man in
thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy
gods; and in the days of thy father light and
understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the
gods, was found in him; whom the king
Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy
father, made master of the magicians,
astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

The queen tells Belshazzar
about Daniel and the fact that the spirit of the
Holy God was in him, and the knowledge and wisdom
that was found in him. She tells him how
Nebuchadnezzar made him master of the wise men of
Babylon because of his great wisdom and
understanding.

(Dan 5:12 KJV) Forasmuch as an
excellent spirit, and knowledge, and
understanding, interpreting of dreams, and
showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of
doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the
king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be
called, and he will show the interpretation.

The queen continues in her
exaltation of Daniel’s abilities to understand
difficult things and presses Belshazzar to call
him in to interpret the handwriting on the wall.
The queen certainly seemed to have intimate and
firsthand knowledge about Daniel, and this tends
to support that she was the widow of
Nebuchadnezzar.

(Dan 5:13 KJV) Then was Daniel
brought in before the king. And the king spake
and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel,
which art of the children of the captivity of
Judah, whom the king my father brought out of
Jewry?

Belshazzar follows the
queen’s advice and calls Daniel in to read the
handwriting on the wall. The queen was not
Belshazzar’s wife, but either his mother or his
grandmother. Her familiarity with Daniel and
Nebuchadnezzar means she was most likely his
grandmother. She knew about Daniel’s spirit,
insight, intelligence, wisdom, knowledge and
understanding, and about his ability to interpret
dreams.

Belshazzar asks Daniel if is
of the captivity of Judah, and was brought out
from among the Jews. Daniel probably nodded his
head in the affirmative, but no answer is recorded
for us. The implied answer is yes.

(Dan 5:14 KJV) I have even heard
of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee,
and that light and understanding and excellent
wisdom is found in thee.

Belshazzar continues to
explain to Daniel the reason that he has been
called into the king’s presence, the reason being
his spiritual enlightenment, his understanding and
his excellent wisdom.

(Dan 5:15 KJV) And now the wise
men, the astrologers, have been brought in
before me, that they should read this writing,
and make known unto me the interpretation
thereof: but they could not show the
interpretation of the thing:

The king explains that the
other wise men were summoned to read the writing
but they were unable to read it and make known the
interpretation.

(Dan 5:16 KJV) And I have heard
of thee, that thou canst make interpretations,
and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the
writing, and make known to me the interpretation
thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and
have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt
be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Belshazzar
petitions Daniel to interpret the writing and
dissolve the confusion over the writing. The
king promises Daniel that if he can read the
writing and make known the interpretation, he
will be clothed in scarlet and be a gold chain
to wear around his neck, and he would be the
third ruler in the kingdom.

(Dan 5:17 KJV) Then Daniel
answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts
be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another;
yet I will read the writing unto the king, and
make known to him the interpretation.

Daniel makes it clear that
he is not interested in the king’s rewards, but he
agrees to interpret the writing anyway. It is
important to note that Daniel does not pay homage
or honor the king in anyway, except to refer to
him as kings in the following verse.

(Dan 5:18 KJV) O thou king, the
most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a
kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

Daniel makes it crystal
clear to Belshazzar that the most high God is the
one who gave Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom, his
majesty, his glory and his honor.

(Dan 5:19 KJV) And for the
majesty that he gave him, all people, nations,
and languages, trembled and feared before him:
whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept
alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he
would he put down.

Daniel continues to explain
that Nebuchadnezzar had supreme power and
authority over all people, nations and languages
and everyone trembled before him because of his
power and authority—even over life and death.

(Dan 5:20 KJV) But when his heart
was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride,
he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they
took his glory from him:

Daniel continues to explain
that when his heart was lifted up in pride and
arrogance, he was deposed from the kingly throne,
and his glory departed from him. Daniel seems to
be preparing the king for the bad news by giving
him the history of Nebuchadnezzar and his fall
from power and his restoration to power.

(Dan 5:21 KJV) And he was driven
from the sons of men; and his heart was made
like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the
wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen,
and his body was wet with the dew of heaven;
till he knew that the most high God ruled in the
kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it
whomsoever he will.

Daniel continues to relate
the story of Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar—even
though Belshazzar knew the story. Daniel relates
how he lived with the beasts of the field and ate
grass like the oxen and his body became wet with
the dew of heaven. All this continued until
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that the most high God
ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appointed
whomever He desired to rule in the affairs of men.

Daniel continues to upbraid
the king over his arrogance and blaspheme against
God. Daniel makes it clear that Belshazzar knew
about the events in Nebuchadnezzar’s life, but he
still refused to humble himself in his heart.

(Dan 5:23 KJV) But hast lifted up
thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they
have brought the vessels of his house before
thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and
thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and
thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold,
of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not,
nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand
thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast
thou not glorified:

Daniel proceeds to tell the
king about his blasphemy of God and his
desecration of the holy vessels from the Jerusalem
temple, and how he even praised the gods of
silver, gold, brass, iron, wood and stone. Daniel
also points out the absurdity of praising these
gods which cannot see, hear or know anything, and
yet refuse to glorify the true God who holds the
very life of Belshazzar in his hand.

(Dan 5:24 KJV) Then was the part
of the hand sent from him; and this writing was
written.

Daniel now points out the
judgment of God on Belshazzar’s actions, since God
is the one who sent the partial hand to write on
the wall.

(Dan 5:25 KJV) And this is the
writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL,
UPHARSIN.

Daniel gives the exact words
that are written, which are translated as
Numbered, Numbered, Weighed and Divided.

(Dan 5:26 KJV) This is the
interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath
numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

The interpretation of the
two words Numbered means that God had numbered the
days of his kingdom and brought it to an end. The
past tense of finished means that Belshazzar’s
kingdom was already ended at the time that Daniel
was addressing him. Belshazzar was killed that
very night by the Persians, and he did not see
another day as king.

The word weighed means that
Belshazzar had been weighed on the divine scale of
justice and had been found wanting or lacking
something.

(Dan 5:28 KJV) PERES; Thy kingdom
is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

The word divided means
that the kingdom of Belshazzar was to be divided
and given to the Medes and the Persians. The
overthrow of the Great City Babylon took place
that very night when the Persians diverted the
Euphrates River and came into the city through
the gates that allowed the river to run through
the city. The gates were left unlocked that
night because the guards felt the river was
enough protection to prevent an intrusion into
the city.

The following information
was taken from the cuneiform tablet known as The
Chronicle of Nabonidus. God brought down
Belshazzar and Nabonidus and put Cyrus in their
place as supreme ruler.

The Chronicle
of Nabonidus gives contemporary information about
the rise of Cyrus
and the erratic behavior of the Babylonian king Nabonidus, who leaves
Babylon and spends several years in the oasis
Temâ in Arabia. His son
Bêlsharusur (the biblical Belshazzar) acts as
regent but is unable to ward off the
approaching Persian danger. Finally, Nabonidus
returns and fights. But it is in vain; Cyrus
is welcomed as representative of the supreme
god.

In October 539
BCE, the Persian king Cyrus
took Babylon,
the ancient capital of an oriental empire
covering modern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and
Israel. In a broader sense, Babylon was the
ancient world's capital of scholarship and
science. The subject provinces soon recognized
Cyrus as their legitimate ruler. Since he was
already lord of peripheral regions in modern
Turkey and Iran (and Afghanistan?), it is not
exaggerated to say that the conquest of Babylonia
meant the birth of a true world empire. The Achaemenid
empire was to last for more than two
centuries, until it was divided by the
successors of the Macedonian
king Alexander
the Great. A remarkable aspect of the
capture of Babylon is the fact that Cyrus
allowed the Jews (who were exiled in Babylonia)
to return home.

The question what Nabonidus
was doing in Temâ will
probably remain unsolved for ever. From the
following text, we may deduce that during his
life time, there were strong rumors that the
king suffered from a mental illness and proposed
a religious reform (preferring the Moon god Sin
to all other gods). These rumors were used by
the author of theVerse account to explain Nabonidus' stay
abroad: being mad, he ignored the supreme god
Marduk and went away. We will discuss the truth
of the allegations below.
Nabonidus' devotion to the Moon is a historical
fact, proven by an inscription found in Harran (in 1956). That he
blasphemed against Marduk, however, must be an
exaggeration.

In addition, we learn that
Nabonidus was not in Babylon for ten years.
Instead, he seems to have tried to subject Arabia. In year three he
conquered the kingdom Edom, which controls the
direct road from Babylon to the Gulf of Aqaba.
From year seven until year sixteen, Nabonidus
stayed in the oasis of Temâ in the Arabian
desert, from where he could easily go as far
south as the oasis Iatribu (modern Medina).

(Dan 5:29 KJV) Then commanded
Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with
scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck,
and made a proclamation concerning him, that he
should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

In his final gesture of
resignation to his fate, Belshazzar commands
Daniel to be clothed with scarlet and a chain of
gold was placed around his neck. Belshazzar also
proclaims him as the third ruler in the kingdom.

(Dan 5:30 KJV) In that night was
Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

As stated above, Belshazzar
was slain that very night by the Persians.Nabonidus did return to
fight against the Persians but the battle was
shortlived.

(Dan 5:31 KJV) And Darius the
Median took the kingdom, being about threescore
and two years old.

Darius the Mede took over
the reign of Babylon and he was 62 years old. The
identity of Darius the Median is questionable, and
various theologians provide several explanations.
Darius has been linked to Cyrus with Darius simply
being a localized name for Cyrus. Darius has also
been linked to Ugbaru, governor of Gutium, who
entered Babylon the night of Belshazzar’s feast.
He has also been linked to Cambyses, the son of
Cyrus. There is one other possibility for the
identity of Darius the Mede, and that would be
Cyaxares, who was the father-in-law of Cyrus. The
author believes that Cyaxares is the correct
identity of Darius the Mede, and that he was
called Darius the Mede to distinguish him from the
other kings named Darius, who were Persians.
Regardless of the correct identity of Darius the
Mede, Darius was a great and wise king over
Babylon and he reigned for two years. The
following is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

“According to Xenophon's Cyropaedia, Cyaxares II
followed king Astyages to the throne of
the Mede Empire, and was also brother of Mandane, Cyrus the Great's
mother. He describes the Persian Cyrus as
cooperating with his uncle, Cyaxares, in order
to conquer Babylon in 539 BC. However
Cyaxares was by then an old man, and because
Cyrus was in command of the campaign, the army
came to regard Cyrus as king. Cyrus thus
received not only the king's daughter (his first
cousin), but his kingdom, as dowry, and the aged
Cyaxares became Cyrus' viceroy in Babylon for
two years until his death, when Cyrus seized
that kingdom as well.”

The Edict of
Darius (Chap. 6)

(Dan 6:1 KJV) It pleased Darius
to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty
princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

Darius as ruler over Babylon
had the first responsibility of reorganizing the
newly conquered kingdom. As such, he set up 120
satraps or princes who were responsible to three
administrators.

(Dan 6:2 KJV) And over these
three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that
the princes might give accounts unto them, and
the king should have no damage.

The princes were accountable
to three administrators, of which Daniel was the
lead administrator. Darius preferred Daniel over
the other administrators.

(Dan 6:3 KJV) Then this Daniel
was preferred above the presidents and princes,
because an excellent spirit was in him; and the
king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Darius preferred Daniel
above the two administrators and all of the
princes because of his “excellent spirit”, and the
king planned to set Daniel over the whole realm of
Babylon. This created great envy on the part of
the princes and the two administrators.

(Dan 6:4 KJV) Then the presidents
and princes sought to find occasion against
Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could
find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he
was faithful, neither was there any error or
fault found in him.

The administrators sought a
reason to accuse Daniel of wrongdoing, but they
could not find any fault in him. Daniel is clearly
a type of Jesus Christ, as the Jews tried to find
fault or sin in him, but they were unable to find
anything against him. Darius would be a type of
God the Father, who loved Jesus and intended to
set him over the affairs of the whole world. In
the same manner, Darius intended to set Daniel
over the affairs of the whole kingdom. Just as
Jesus died at the hands of corrupt men bent upon
his destruction, Daniel died (figuratively) when
he was cast into the lion’s den and a stone was
rolled over the door with a seal set upon it. Just
as Jesus conquered death and exited the tomb,
Daniel conquered death and exited the lion’s den
and was placed over the affairs of the kingdom.

(Dan 6:5 KJV) Then said these
men, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning
the law of his God.

The conspirators against
Jesus could not find any fault in him, so they
looked to the law of God. They accused Jesus of
breaking the Sabbath Day, and for eating and
drinking with tax collectors and prostitutes. In
essence they trumped up charges against Jesus in
violation of manmade laws, just as the presidents
and princes trumped up charges against Daniel
because of manmade law. Just as Daniel had to die
because of the law, Jesus Christ also had to die,
but just as Daniel was innocent of any wrongdoing,
Jesus Christ was also innocent of any wrongdoing.
Both, however, had to die to fulfill the law.
Jesus died in fulfillment of the law of God, and
Daniel was cast into the lion’s den in fulfillment
of the law signed by Darius. Just as Daniel was
cast into the lion’s den because of fidelity to
his God, Jesus was crucified and placed in the
tomb because of fidelity to God the Father.

(Dan 6:6 KJV) Then these
presidents and princes assembled together to the
king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live
for ever.

Just as the presidents and
princes pretended to honor King Darius, the Jews
at the time of Jesus paid lip service to God the
Father. As stated in the Scriptures, they honored
God with their lips, but their hearts were far
from him.

(Dan 6:7 KJV) All the presidents
of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes,
the counsellors, and the captains, have
consulted together to establish a royal statute,
and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall
ask a petition of any God or man for thirty
days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast
into the den of lions.

The purpose of the royal
statute was to bring to light Daniel’s
disobedience to the law, just as the Law of God
was to reveal or bring to light man’s sin or
disobedience to God’s Law. Daniel’s disobedience
to the law was to bring about his death, and man’s
disobedience to the Law of God was to bring about
his death.

The den of lions seems to
typify Satan and his minions who go about
throughout the earth seeking someone to devour.
Those who are obedient to God cannot be devoured
or destroyed by Satan and his minions.
Consequently, Daniel was preserved alive and came
out of the lion’s den unscathed. In like manner,
Jesus came out of the tomb unscathed and qualified
to reign and rule in the kingdom. Christians who
are also live worthy and blameless lives in the
age will also reign and rule with Jesus Christ.
Thus, Daniel appears to be a prophetic type of
Jesus Christ in this verse and a figurative type
of the faithful Christian.

(Dan 6:8 KJV) Now, O king,
establish the decree, and sign the writing, that
it be not changed, according to the law of the
Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

It is the king who
establishes the decree and signs it, just as it is
God who made the Law that mankind has broken. The
Law cannot be broken, so the just penalty must be
meted out. The Law cannot be altered or amended,
since it was established by God. Therefore, a just
way must be found to fulfill the Law, and still
save the beloved Daniel. The death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ was God’s way of
fulfilling the Law, yet saving the elect of
mankind.

(Dan 6:9 KJV) Wherefore king
Darius signed the writing and the decree.

It must be nailed down and
clarified that it was Darius who signed the
writing and the decree, so the decree must be
fulfilled for anyone breaking it. Just as Darius
is heartbroken when Daniel must be cast into the
lion’s den, God was heartbroken when Jesus Christ
was crucified and laid in the tomb.

(Dan 6:10 KJV) Now when Daniel
knew that the writing was signed, he went into
his house; and his windows being open in his
chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his
knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave
thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Just as Daniel knew the
decree had been written and signed by the king,
Jesus knew the penalty of sin and his part in
fulfilling the Law. Daniel was to take the
punishment willingly for violation of the statute,
just as Jesus Christ took the punishment for sin.

(Dan 6:11 KJV) Then these men
assembled, and found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God.

Just as the administrators
and satraps got together to bring about the death
of Daniel, the Jews of Jesus’ day assembled to
accuse Jesus Christ and bring about his death.
Just as the administrators and satraps found
Daniel praying and making supplication to God in
his home, the Jews found Jesus praying and making
supplication to God the Father in the Garden of
Gethsemene.

(Dan 6:12 KJV) Then they came
near, and spake before the king concerning the
king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree,
that every man that shall ask a petition of any
God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O
king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The
king answered and said, The thing is true,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which altereth not.

Then the leaders spoke
before the king regarding his decree, and how the
decree was made by him and signed by him, and how
the law could not be broken. In like manner Satan
and his minions accuse God’s people before God. In
fact one of Satan’s names is the accuser, and
Jesus Christ is our defender against the
accusations of Satan.

(Dan 6:13 KJV) Then answered they
and said before the king, That Daniel, which is
of the children of the captivity of Judah,
regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that
thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three
times a day.

Just as the administrators
and satraps accused Daniel before the king, Satan
and his minions made accusations against Jesus
Christ for the purpose of killing him. Just as
Daniel was a child of the captivity of Judah,
Jesus Christ was of the tribe of Judah.

(Dan 6:14 KJV) Then the king,
when he heard these words, was sore displeased
with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to
deliver him: and he laboured till the going down
of the sun to deliver him.

Just as the king was greatly
displeased within himself for the circumstances of
Daniel, God was greatly displeased within himself
about the circumstances of Jesus Christ. The king
set his heart on the deliverance of Daniel, and
God set his heart upon the deliverance of Jesus
Christ. The king labored until the end of the day
for the express purpose of delivering Daniel, and
God the Father worked out the plan to deliver
Jesus Christ from his adversaries. In the same
manner, God works to the end of time to deliver
his people from the clutches of Satan. The plans
and purposes of God were not only to deliver Jesus
Christ from Satan, but to deliver all of his elect
from Satan. This plan will continue until the end
of time and God’s people step over into eternity
cleansed and sanctified, and delivered from the
power of Satan.

(Dan 6:15 KJV) Then these men
assembled unto the king, and said unto the king,
Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and
Persians is, That no decree nor statute which
the king establisheth may be changed.

The administrators and
satraps remind the king again that the decree
which the king established could not be broken,
just as the Law of God could not be broken.

(Dan 6:16 KJV) Then the king
commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him
into the den of lions. Now the king spake and
said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee.

Then the king commanded that
Daniel be brought and cast into the den of lions,
just as Jesus Christ was brought and cast into the
jaws of death. The king speaks to Daniel and
assures him that his God will deliver him from the
den of lions, and God the Father assured Jesus
Christ that he would be delivered from death
because of his faithfulness to God the Father.

(Dan 6:17 KJV) And a stone was
brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and
the king sealed it with his own signet, and with
the signet of his lords; that the purpose might
not be changed concerning Daniel.

A stone was brought and laid
upon the mouth of the den, just as a stone was
rolled before the tomb of Jesus Christ, and both
stones were sealed by the government to prevent
them from being broken. The punishment of Daniel
had to be meted out, just as the punishment of
Jesus Christ had to be accomplished in full.

(Dan 6:18 KJV) Then the king went
to his palace, and passed the night fasting:
neither were instruments of music brought before
him: and his sleep went from him.

Just as the king spent the
night in mourning for Daniel, the disciples of
Jesus (i.e., representatives of God) spent the
time of his stay in the tomb in mourning and
fasting. There was no music, eating or sleep
during the time of Daniel’s sojourn in the den of
lions. Nether was it a time of rest and relaxation
during the time of Jesus sojourn in the tomb.

(Dan 6:19 KJV) Then the king
arose very early in the morning, and went in
haste unto the den of lions.

Just as the king got up very
early in the morning to check on Daniel, the
angels of God came to the tomb early in the
morning to open the tomb of Jesus Christ. The
disciples of Christ also went to the tomb early in
the morning to check on the body of Jesus.

(Dan 6:20 KJV) And when he came
to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice
unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to
Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is
thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to
deliver thee from the lions?

Just as the king cried out
to Daniel in the lion’s den, God cried out to
Jesus Christ in the tomb and He was raised from
the dead and delivered from death. Just as God was
able to deliver Daniel from the clutches of death,
He was able to deliver Jesus Christ from death.

(Dan 6:21 KJV) Then said Daniel
unto the king, O king, live for ever.

Then Daniel gave honor to
the king, just as Jesus Christ paid honor and
glory to God the Father.

(Dan 6:22 KJV) My God hath sent
his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that
they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him
innocency was found in me; and also before thee,
O king, have I done no hurt.

Daniel confirms the fact
that his God had sent his angel to shut the lion’s
mouths so that Daniel could be delivered from
death, and the lions were not able to hurt him.
The reason that Daniel was delivered from death
was his “innocency” before God. Jesus Christ was
also delivered from death because of his innocency
in never committing sin. Daniel never did anything
that was against the king, and Jesus Christ never
committed any offense against God the father.

(Dan 6:23 KJV) Then was the king
exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they
should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel
was taken up out of the den, and no manner of
hurt was found upon him, because he believed in
his God.

The king was very glad for
Daniel and commanded that Daniel come up out of
the den. In like manner, God the Father was very
happy for his Son Jesus Christ and commanded that
He be brought up to heaven.Jesus
Christ ascended into heaven the very same day of
his resurrection to place his blood on the mercy
seat in heaven. Daniel had no injury from his
experience in the lion’s den and Jesus Christ had
no injury from his experience at the hands of the
Romans. Only the visible scars of his crucifixion
were left as a sign to his disciples to bear
witness to his death, burial and resurrection.

(Dan 6:24 KJV) And the king
commanded, and they brought those men which had
accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den
of lions, them, their children, and their wives;
and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake
all their bones in pieces or ever they came at
the bottom of the den.

The king commanded that
those men who had accused Daniel were to be
brought and cast into the den of lions along with
their families, including their wives and
children. Before they reached the bottom of the
den, the lions attacked them and crushed their
bones. The prophetic type continues in that the
accusers of Jesus Christ were destroyed by Satan
and his minions, in that their lives or souls
perished as a result of their wickedness. Please
note that the lions had mastery over them and
broke their bones. The breaking of the bones is a
metaphor called prosopopeia whereby a member of
the body is personified. For example, the breaking
of the bones is a breaking of the mind and will of
the person. Before a person can become faithful to
God, he must have his mind and will broken in
order to receive the things of God. Thus, the
breaking of the bones is a figure for being broken
by God in the mind and will into a contrite and
broken spirit. All of God’s people, including the
Jews, must eventually be broken to have a contrite
and lowly spirit. It takes a great deal more for
some people to be broken than for other people to
be broken. God will do whatever it takes to
completely break every believer to conform him to
the image of Jesus Christ. In many cases this will
result in the loss of the inheritance in the
kingdom of heaven, but every believer will be
finally broken. The breaking of the bones is an
indication of the severe measures that must be
taken to break a person’s will into a humble and
contrite spirit. The Jews as a people are a
strong-willed, stiff-necked and arrogant people in
general, and God will have to take severe measures
to bring them to repentance. The Scriptures are
very clear on this matter. The rod of correction
is the Old Testament tool for breaking the leg of
a sheep to bring him into compliance and obedience
to the shepherd.

Satan still goes about like
a roaring lion seeking Christians that he is able
to lead away from the truth and thus be destroyed.

(Dan 6:25 KJV) Then king Darius
wrote unto all people, nations, and languages,
that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied
unto you.

Just as Darius took his
message of peace with God to all people, nations,
and languages that dwelled on the earth at that
time, God chose Paul to take his message of peace
with God to all people, nations and languages of
the world. Thus, the message of peace with God was
not just for the Jews, but all the peoples of the
earth.

(Dan 6:26 KJV) I make a decree,
That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble
and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the
living God, and stedfast for ever, and his
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and
his dominion shall be even unto the end.

King Darius made a
decree that in every dominion of his kingdom,
men were to tremble and fear before the God of
Daniel. God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
and shall never be destroyed. The God of Daniel
is the living God who is steadfast and
unchangeable and his dominion shall be unto the
end. Daniel continues as a type of Jesus Christ
who will establish his kingdom, and his kingdom
will last until the end. The end is the end of
the seven thousand years ordained by God. The
last thousand years is the Sabbath or Millennial
Rest and will usher in eternity.

(Dan 6:27 KJV)He
delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs
and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath
delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

God is the
deliverer who rescues and saves, and he provides
signs and wonders in heaven and earth to tell
about his plans for mankind. He is the One who
delivered Daniel from the power of the lions,
and in like manner, Jesus Christ was delivered
from the power of Satan and minions.

(Dan 6:28 KJV) So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the
reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Just as Daniel
prospered during the reign of Darius, Jesus
Christ will greatly prosper in the reign of God
the Holy Spirit in the current dispensation, and
in the reign of God the Father throughout
eternity.